Training device for material arts

ABSTRACT

A training device for a boxing or martial arts practitioner comprises a striking surface which the practitioner and holding means by which a trainer may hold the device, wherein the area of the striking surface is substantially three dimensional.

[0001] The present invention relates to training devices and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to training devices for boxing and/or martial arts practitioners.

[0002] Devices used by pupils training in boxing and martial arts consist of impact-absorbant gloves or pads which are held by a trainer and which provide targets for the pupil to strike in order to develop their boxing and/or kicking techniques.

[0003] Conventionally, boxing or martial arts training consists of the trainer holding and moving two pads which provide a two dimensional striking surface for the pupil to strike. The pads are made of resilient impact-absorbing materials, for example, foamed polymeric materials such as a homogeneously distributed foamed polymeric core which has a leather outer skin. The skin prevents injury or damage to the practising pupil, as well as to the trainer.

[0004] A major problem encountered with conventional training pads is that the two dimensional striking surface they provide is very unrealistic in comparison to an actual boxing or martial arts fight between two competitors. The trainer needs to become familiar with, and instruct, the combination of punches and/or kicks made by the pupil. Therefore, the trainer compensates for the combination of moves made by the pupil and moves the pads accordingly, leading to an unrealistic training session.

[0005] Furthermore, using two pads is very unrealistic since a pupil normally has only one target to aim for instead of two held by the trainer. As a result, in order to provide a good training session, the pupil (and the trainer) must train for considerable periods of time, possibly sometimes as long as two to three hours in total in order to familiarise each other with their respective movements.

[0006] It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address the above problems and to provide a training device which provides an improved training session for the training pupil and which is easier and more efficiently held by the trainer.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a training device for a boxing or martial arts practitioner, the training device comprising a striking surface which the practitioner may strike, and holding means by which a trainer may hold the device, wherein the area of the striking surface is substantially three dimensional.

[0008] Preferably, the training device is adapted, in use, to receive blows from a lateral direction, at an angle to a front face of the training device.

[0009] Preferably, the training device includes lateral blow-receiving faces, which may be upper and lower blow-receiving faces. The training device may include side blow-receiving faces.

[0010] Preferably, the device comprises a forward-facing surface, a rearward-facing surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces with respect to the trainer. Preferably, and for the sake of clarity, by three dimensional, we mean that the striking surface of the device substantially comprises the forward-facing surface, the upper surface, the lower surface and the side surfaces of the device. Preferably, all of these surfaces may be struck by the practitioner.

[0011] Advantageously, the device is not limited to only the forward-facing surface with respect to the trainer which is directly presented to the practitioner as with prior art training pads. This would be described herein as being two dimensional.

[0012] Advantageously, the provision of a substantially three dimensional striking surface enables the boxing or martial arts practitioner to throw punches and/or kicks at the training device from virtually any angle, either onto the front surface or any of the side surfaces of the device. Disadvantageously, this is not possible with conventional training pads. Advantageously, the practitioner has a more efficient training session using the device according to the invention.

[0013] The device and, preferably, the striking surface may be substantially convex, and may be spherical in shape. Preferably, the device is tear-drop shaped. Preferably, the device is pear-shaped. Preferably, the forward-facing surface, the upper surface, the lower surface and the side surfaces form the spherical or tear-drop shape or pear-shape of the device.

[0014] The device may comprise a sleeve which preferably comprises padding. By teardrop shaped, we mean that the sleeve may taper inwardly from the forwardly facing surface to a rear surface of the device. By pear-shaped, we mean the sleeve has a substantially constant diameter.

[0015] Advantageously, the forearms of the trainer are protected from blows especially kicks from the pupil by the sleeve.

[0016] Preferably, the holding means comprises at least one aperture on the surface thereof, preferably, located on the rearward-facing surface of the device. Preferably, the said at least one aperture extends into at least one channel in which the trainer may insert at least one hand, preferably two hands. Preferably, the or each channel is sufficiently deep such that the trainer may insert at least one hand and, preferably, at least one forearm therein. Preferably, the holding means comprises two apertures each of which extends into a channel in which the trainer may insert a hand. Preferably, each channel is located on the rearward-facing surface of the device.

[0017] Advantageously, a better grip of the device is provided with deeper channels.

[0018] Preferably, the holding means further comprises gripping means, which the trainer may grip onto with at least one hand. Preferably, the gripping means comprises a bar which extends across the width of the or each channel, preferably, at the end of the or each channel distal from its associated aperture. The gripping means may comprise a glove, preferably an internal glove located inside the or each channel.

[0019] The holding means may comprise a handle, preferably on the upper surface of the device. The trainer may insert a first hand in the at least one aperture. The trainer may hold the handle with a second hand. Advantageously, the trainer has additional control and support over the device.

[0020] Preferably, the device is manufactured substantially as two halves with each half comprising one of the apertures. The bar may extend in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of each half, preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each half. Preferably, the bar extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each half. Advantageously, the two halves are identical.

[0021] Preferably, the striking surface comprises a polymeric material, more preferably, leather. Preferably, the interior of the training device comprises a resilient impact-absorbing material, more preferably, a foamed polymeric material.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of training a boxing or martial arts practitioner, the method comprising providing a training device comprising holding means by which a trainer may hold the device, and a striking surface which the practitioner may strike, wherein the area of the striking surface is substantially three dimensional in shape.

[0023] All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

[0024] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of training device in use;

[0026]FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of training device;

[0027]FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the training device of FIG. 2;

[0028]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of training device in use;

[0029]FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of training device;

[0030]FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the training device of FIG. 5; and

[0031]FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view from above of a fifth embodiment of the training device.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a training device 1 being held by a trainer 2. The training device 1 is generally tear-drop shaped but may be spherical as shown in FIG. 2, or pear shaped as shown in FIG. 4. The shape of the device is often determined by its use.

[0033]FIG. 1 shows a boxer or martial arts practitioner 3 striking the training device 1 by punching with his fists, but could alternatively show him kicking with his feet.

[0034]FIG. 4 also shows a boxer 3 practising with a trainer 2 who is holding the pear shaped device 1.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, there is shown a spherical form of the training device 1 in greater detail. The training device 1 consists of an outer skin 1 a which is made of leather or a polymeric material such as plastics material, and an interior 1 b which is made of a resilient impact-absorbing material such as foam or some other polymeric material. The training device is made by initially constructing two interior halves 1 b of the device, joining the two halves together and then tightly wrapping the device with the outer skin 1 a.

[0036] The training device 1 has two holes 4 which form channels 5 which extend into the interior of the device 1 b. A bar 6 extends across each channel 5 in a position substantially distal from the holes 4 on the surface 1 a of the training device 1. The bars 6 are tightly embedded in the interior material 1 b during the construction stage of the device 1. In FIGS. 2 and 5, the bars 6 are shown extending across each channel 5 but in different orientations with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device 1. However, in both cases, the bars 6 extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device 1.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternative view of the training device 1 illustrating the respective positioning of the holes 4, channels 5, and bars 6. The bars 6 are shown in FIG. 3 at an angle. However, the invention is not restricted to the specific arrangement of the bars 6. The bars 6 may be arranged vertically, i.e. parallel to each other. In both cases, each half of the device 1 is identical to each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. This means the two identical halves could be manufactured from one operation thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0038] In use, the trainer 2 inserts his or her hands into the holes 4, down into the channels 5 and tightly grips the bars 6 at the end thereof. The trainer 2 then holds the training device 1 up to the pupil 3 and a training session may then commence.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the device 1 having only one hole 4, channel 5 and gripping bar 6 (not shown). It should be appreciated that the device 1 does not have to have two holes 4. The device 1 is pear-shaped having a well-padded sleeve 18 which protects the trainer's forearms from injury. In addition, the device 1 has a handle 20 fastened to the outer upper surface thereof. When using this embodiment of the device 1, the trainer 2 inserts just one hand into the channel 5 gripping on to the bar 6, and with the other hand, holds onto the handle 20 on the outer surface of the device 1. This provides additional support and control over the device 1 as a whole thereby improving the training session of the practitioner 3.

[0040] Advantages of the training device 1 reside in the manner in which a realistic 3-dimensional striking surface 1 a similar in size and shape to an opponents head or stomach is provided to the pupil 3 for training. Therefore, the pupil 3 is able to aim towards a single target rather than having an unrealistic two targets to aim for as with conventional separate training pads. The 3-dimensional striking surface 1 a means that the pupil 3 can throw punches and/or kicks to the training device 1 from virtually any angle, either onto the front surface or side surfaces (upper, lower and either side) of the device 1. As a result, the trainer's 2 skill level at holding the pad 1 is less critical and familiarity with the pupil's punching and/or kicking technique is not as crucial as when conventional training pads are used. In addition, the bars 6 and channels 5 provide improved grips and protection for the trainer 2. Finally, the handle 20 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 provides extra control to the trainer 2.

[0041] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0042] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0043] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0044] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 

1. A training device for a boxing or martial arts practitioner, the training device comprising a striking surface which the practitioner may strike, and holding means by which a trainer may hold the device by inserting two hands, the holding means comprising gripping means adapted to receive the trainer's hands substantially adjacent to one another.
 2. A training device as claimed in claim 1, in which the device comprises a sleeve which, in use, protects the trainer's forearms from injury.
 3. A training device as claimed in claim 1, in which the device is substantially spherical, teardrop shaped or pear shaped.
 4. A training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the training device is adapted, in use, to receive blows from a lateral direction, at an angle to a front face of the training device.
 5. A training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the training device includes lateral blow-receiving faces.
 6. A training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a forward-facing surface, a rearward-facing surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces with respect to the trainer.
 7. A training device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the surfaces are substantially convex.
 8. A training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping means comprises a bar which extends across the width of the or each channel.
 9. A training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is manufactured substantially as two halves with each half comprising one of the apertures.
 10. A training device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bar extends in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the device.
 11. A method of training a boxing or martial arts practitioner, the method comprising: (i) inserting two hands in to a training device comprising holding means and a three dimensional striking surface; (ii) gripping onto the said holding means with hands located substantially side by side; (iii) holding the device up to a boxing or martial arts practitioner; and (iv) allowing the practitioner to strike the striking surface.
 12. The method of claim 11 in which the gripping hands are facing each other palm to palm. 